The Buffalo Bills took a chance on Jim Leonhard after he didn’t hear his name called during the 2005 NFL Draft. Buffalo brought aboard the undrafted Wisconsin safety, and that’s where he began his 10-year NFL playing career.
More than a decade later, he’s reportedly headed back, this time as a coach after serving as the Denver Broncos defensive pass game coordinator the past two seasons.
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The Bills are hiring Leonhard as their new defensive coordinator, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday. Leonhard, who doubled as Sean Payton’s assistant head coach in 2025, will now be Joe Brady’s DC in Buffalo.
Leonhard joined the Broncos’ staff ahead of the 2024 season, during which he also coached the team’s defensive backs.
He last held a DC gig at his alma mater. Leonhard was Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator from 2017-22. He finished the 2022 season as the Badgers’ interim head coach.
This coaching cycle, Leonhard visited the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens as well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but he’ll be responsible for a Bills defense that allowed the 12th-fewest points per game (21.5) this season yet ranked 28th against the run, giving up 136.2 yards per game on the ground.
This story is being updated.